Noah and Drake raced through the forest, their wolf forms covering the ground quickly and silently. Noah's silver coat gleamed in the moonlight, contrasting with Drake's darker fur that blended with the shadows. The scent of pine and damp earth filled their noses, mingled with a faint trace of Hannah's familiar scent.
"Just a little further," Noah thought, leaping over obstacles. "I'm coming, Hannah."
As they ran, Noah observed Drake's lithe form, wrestling with conflicting emotions. He wanted to hate Drake for his closeness to Hannah, for the way she seemed to care for him. Yet, he knew without Drake, finding Hannah before it was too late might be impossible.
The trees thinned as they reached the mountaintop. They slowed, exchanging silent glances. Hannah's scent intensified, indicating her proximity, and therefore, her captors'. Caution was paramount.
Noah followed Hannah's scent, stopping at a blood-splattered rock beside a large boot print. Hannah had been carried.
Suddenly, Noah froze, ears perked. Drake mirrored his stance, listening intently. Faint voices and unfamiliar scents drifted toward them. They were close.
Moving cautiously beneath the underbrush, they spotted an armed guard, alert and ready. A silent plan formed, and in perfect synchronization, they burst from cover, overwhelming the guard before he could react. Drake's fangs swiftly ended the threat.
With the immediate danger neutralized, they pressed on. In a clearing, Noah saw Hannah, kneeling in a bikini, hands bound, surrounded by armed men. But the figure at the forefront chilled him: Jake, Hannah's ex-fiancรฉ.
A growl rose in Noah's chest, but Drake's nudge reminded him to remain quiet. They needed the element of surprise to rescue Hannah without further injury.
They were about to move when another wolf attacked, catching them off guard. Their struggle echoed through the clearing, alerting Jake and his men.
Hannah's head snapped up at the commotion. Jake cursed, yanking her to her feet. A guard's question was met with Jake's barked order to investigate, preparing for anything.
As the guards moved, Hannah's heart raced. Could it be...? An intoxicating scent filled the air.